Solderless wire connector

ABSTRACT

A solderless wire connector including a first connector member having wire receiving channels, and a second connector member mounted on the first connector member for relative movement from an open position to a closed position to engage a contact element carried by the second connector member with wires in the channels. Latching projections, interacting between the connector members to define the positions thereof, afford movement of the connector members to a partially closed position by finger pressure. At the partially closed position retaining members within the connector engage and retain wires within the channels to facilitate use of a pliers for further movement of the connector members to their closed position.

United States Patent Bazille, Jr.

SOLDERLESS WIRE CONNECTOR [75] Inventor: James H. Bazille, Jr., Villageof North St. Paul, Minn.

[73] Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul,Minn.

[22] Filed: June 5, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 259,653

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 157,275, June28, 1971,

abandoned.

[52] US. Cl. 174/88 R, 174/98 [51] Int. Cl H02g 15/08 [58] Field ofSearch 174/88 R, 92, 84 R; 339/95 R, 97 R, 98, 99 R, 95 A [5 6]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,012,219 12/1961 Levin et a1174/92 X 3,118,715 l/l964 Potruch 339/98 [451 Apr. 16,1974

I 3,147,338 9/1964 Ekvallet a1 ..174/92X 3,162,501 12/1964 Wah1..;..339/98 Primary Examiner-Darrell L. Clay DeLal-Iunt 5 7 ABSTRACT Asolderless wire connector including a first connector member having wirereceiving channels, and a second connector member mounted on the firstconnector member for relative movement from an open position to a closedposition to engage a contact element carried by the second connectormember with wires in the channels. Latching projections, interactingbetween the connector members to define the positions thereof, affordmovement of the connector members to a partially closed position byfinger pressure. At the partially closed position retaining memberswithin the connector engage and retain wires within the channels tofacilitate use of a pliers for further movement of the connector membersto their closed position.

6 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 1 m4 3804.971

D/ELfC TR/c GREASE F/LLED INVENTOR.

5 JAMES H BAZ/LLE JR. WW la 1 M mffflza iw A 7' TORNE vs SOLDERLESS WIRECONNECTOR CROSS REFERENCE This application is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 157,275, filed June 28, 1971, now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The apparatus of this disclosure relates tosolderless wire connector assemblies such as may be used for DESCRIPTIONOF THE PRIOR ART Many prior art solderless wire connectors include afirst connector member having wire receiving channels, and a secondconnector member carrying a conductive metal contact element. Theconnector members are relatively movable from an open position at whichthe contact element is spaced from the wire receiving channels, to aclosed position at which spaced extending legs of the contact elementare transverse of the channel and inengagement with electrical wires inthe channels so that an electrical contact is made therebetween.Latching projections interacting between the connector members are alsoprovided to define the open and closed positions of the connectormembers, and to lock the connector members in their closed position.

Connectors of this type typically require the use of a plier like toolto move the connector members to their closed position. Thus, aworkman'must insert wires into the channel, and maintain the wires inposition with one hand while with the other he grasps the tool, engagesit with the connector, and squeezes the connector members to theirclosed position. Such manipulation is difficult, and occasionally a wirebecomes displaced during this operation which may result in a defectiveconnection.

A second problem presented by some prior art connectors is thepossibility that wires inserted in the channels will be misaligned withrespect to the contact element during closing of the connector so thatan end of a leg on the contact element may strike and sever the wire. v

Additionally, many prior-art connectors of the type which connect acontinuing or run wire to a terminating or tap wire have not afforded asufficiently tight enclosure when in the closed'position to restricterosion of dielectric grease is typically placed around the contactelement to protect the electrical connection when the connector isexposed to moisture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a connector of thetype previously described having two members relatively movable toengage a contact element with wires in channels in the connector, andhaving latching projections to define the positions of the connector.Unlike the prior art, however the connector of the present invention hasa partially closed position between the open and closed positions atwhich the connector members will be releasably maintained by thelatching projections and at which retaining members within the connectorengage and hold the insulation on wires within the channels. Theconnector members may be moved to the partially closed position by theuse of finger pressure. Thus, after a craftsman has manually positionedthe wires within the connector he may move the connector members totheir partially closed position with only finger pressure from the handholding the connector, and thus ensure proper retention of the wireswithin the connector while a plier-like tool is applied to fully closethe connector.

Additionally, in the connector according to the present invention, theretaining members guide the wires within the channels between the legsof the contact element during closing of the connector, thus preventingthe severing of the wires by the ends of the connector legs. Also, theretaining members grasp the insulation on each wire and restrainmovement of wires at the contact element and thus minimize thepossibility of the wires breaking at the connection with the'contactelement.

The novel construction of the connector members also affords a fulllength opening along one side of at least one of the channels so that alength of a continuing wire may be inserted while the connector is open.The opening is entirely closed when the connector is closed, and theconnector members provide a tight enclosure to restrict the erosion ofdielectric grease from around the contact element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING This invention will be more fullyunderstood after reading the following description which refers to theaccompanying drawing in which like numerals designate like partsthroughout the figures and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of aconnector according to the present invention, with a first memberinverted to illustrate the internal interacting portions of theconnector;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the connector of FIG. ll;

FIG. 3 is a view partially in section taken approximately along thelines 3-3 in FIG. 2 and illustrating the members of the connector in anopen position;

FIG. 4 is a view partially in section taken approximately along thelines 3-3 in FIG. 2 and illustrating the members of the connector in apartially closed position;

FIG. 5 is a view partially in section taken approximately along thelines 3-3 in FIG. 2 and illustrating the members of the connector in afully closed position;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view, with some parts shown in elevation, takenapproximately along lines 6-6 of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken approximately along lines 7-7 of FIG.6; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken approximately along lines 88 of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to thedrawing there is shown a solderless wire connector according to thepresent invention for electrically connecting a continuing or run wire22 to a terminating or tap wire 23 (see FIG. 2). The connector includesan insulating resilient first or body member 10 having a wire receivingchannel 48 for receiving the run wire 22 and a wire receiving channel 49for receiving the tap wire 23, and having a first set of outwardlyextending latching projections Ill, 62, and 63. An insulating resilientsecond or cap member 12 is mounted on the body member 10 forrelativemovement from an open position (FIG. 3) to a closed position (FIG. 5)and has a second set of inwardly extending latching projections 40 and41 which interact with the latching projections 11, 62, and 63 on thebody member to define the open and the closed positions of the body andcap members 10 and 12, and to lock the body and cap members 10 and 12 intheir closed position. A plate-like metal contact element 26 (FIG. 8) ismounted on the cap member 12 and has spaced extending legs 29 definingwire receiving recesses 31 therebetween. The contact element 26 isspaced from the wire receiving channels 48 and 49 when the body and capmembers 10 and 12 are in the open position, and the legs 29 of thecontact element are transverse of the channels 48 and 49 in a groove orfurrow in the body member 10 when the body and cap members 10 and 12 arein the closed position to engage and make an electrical contact betweenelectrical wires 22 and 23 within the channels 48 and 49.

The body and cap members 10 and 12 of the novel connector according tothe present invention may be moved by finger pressure from their openposition (FIG. 3) to a partially closed position (FIG. 4) during whichmovement a plurality of retaining member or fingers 37 mounted on thecap member 12 position the wires 22 and 23 in the proper position forsubsequent engagement by the legs 29 of the contact element 26 andengage the wires 22 and 23 to retain the wires 22 and 23 in a fixedlongitudinal direction within the wire receiving channels 48 and 49. Thefirst and second sets of latching projections '11, 62, 63, 40 and 41interact to releasably maintain the body and cap members 10 and 12 attheir partially closed position (FIG. 4), so that the electrical wires22 and 23 are retained within the channels 48 and 49 prior to furthermovement of the body and cap members 10 and 12 to their closed positionby the use of an auxiliary tool (not shown).

To assist in the understanding of the preferred embodiment illustratedin FIGS. l-8, it will be assumed that the solderless electrical wireconnector will be assembled by the body member 10 being verticallypressed down into the cap member 12, as shown by the dotted lines andarrows of FIG. 1, and reference will be made to this verticalorientation, e.g., top and bottom, throughout the description andclaims; the end and side references will correspond to the normaldescription of an elongated box-like object. It is understood, ofcourse, that the directional orientation of the connector, i.e.,vertical, top, bottom, side, and etc., does not limit the assemblage northe utility of the connector to the stated orientation but has beenutilized only to facilitate the understanding of the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the cap member 12 is made from a resilientinsulating material formed into two side walls 14, two end walls 16, 17and a bottom plate 18. The end walls 16, 17 have apertures 19, 20,respectively, to provide clearance for the run wire 22 and tap wire 23(not shown in FIG. 1). Integrally formed with the side walls 14 and thebottom plate 18 are abutments 24 (see FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 8). Eachabutment 24 has a vertical groove with a width approximating thethickness of the metal contact element 26 to receive and maintain thecontact element 26 in a vertical relationship relative to the cap member12. The distance between the corresponding grooves approximates thewidth of the element 26 between the outer edges of the cesses 31. Thedistal ends of the legs 29 diverge to define divergent openings 32,which opening 32 the recesses 31 to assist in guiding the wires 22 and23 in the wire receiving channels 48 and 49 into the recesses 31. Theopening parallel edges ofthe legs 29 are separated by a distancesomewhat less than the diameter of the smallest wire conductor to whichconnection is to be made. When the body and cap members 10 and 12 of theconnector are in their partially closed position as shown in FIG. 4, thedivergent ends of the legs 29 come into contact with the wires 22 and 23and guide the wires 22 and 23 into the recesses 31. Upon further partialclosing the wires 22 and 23 are pressed into the recesses 31, and theopposing edges of the legs 29 which define each recess 31 cut into andthrough the insulation around the wires 22 and 23 and bear against theconductors 33 of the wires 22 and 23. The conductors 33 spread theresilient legs 29 from their original position so that the legs 29 inattempting to spring back toward their original position exert acontinued pressure against the conductors 33 and maintain a springreserve electrical contact therebetween. The overall width of thecontact element 26 adjacent the legs 29 is less than the internaldistance between the side walls 14 (see FIG. 8) to allow the legs 29 tobe resiliently spread apart without interference from the side walls 14and to prevent the spread legs 29 from cutting into or through the walls14 to lessen the electrical insulating property of the connector.Connections made in this manner, have been tested and. found to provideunusually low resistance that lasts despite mechanical stresses, ortemperature and pressure changes.

Spaced from and on opposite sides of the contact element 26 are a pairof slotted wire supports 34 (see FIG. 1) integrally formed with the sidewalls 14 and the bottom plate 18, and having slots 35, which are in linewith the recesses 31 (see FIG. 3). The slots 35 are defined by upwardlyextending fingers 37 the opposed edges of which diverge at the ends ofthe fingers 37 to provide diverging openings 38. The sloping edgesdefining the openings 38 act to guide the wires 22 and 23 in the wirereceiving channels 48 and 49 into the recesses 31 and slots 35 when theconnector is being closed (see FIGS. 3, 4 and 5). The opposed edges ofthe fingers 37 defining the slots 35 are spaced apart slightly less thanthe outside diametrical dimension of the smallest wire to whichconnection is to be made. As the wires are forced into the slots 35, theinterference between the wires 22 and 23 and the edges of the fingers 37cause the resilient fingers 37 to deflect. This resilient deflectionmaintains a spring reserve tight grasp on the insulation (see FIG. 6) tomaintain the wires 22 and 23 within the wire receiving channels 48 and49 when the members l0 and 12 of the connector are in the partiallyclosed position, and to minimize the stress in the conductors 33 at thecontact element 26 after the connector is closed. Clearance is providedbetween the projecting portion of the fingers 37 and the side walls 14to permit the deflection of the fingers 37.

The body member is preferably made from a relatively transparentinsulating material formed into a four cornered generally block-likeconfiguration having a base portion 44 and two end walls 46 and 47.Extending through end walls 46 and 47 is the channel 48 to receive therun wire 22. Extending through wall 47 and partially through wall 46 isthe channel 49 to receive the tap wire 23. The end wall 46 includes aninterior stop surface 50 and a deflectionplate 51 (see FIG. 2) withinthe channel 49 to prevent the tap wire 23 from extending beyond the endof the body member 10. The deflection plate 51 acts to verticallydeflect the end of the wire 23 toward the surface 50 and thus bind theend of the wire 23 within the wall 46. Between the end walls andextending from the base portion are two plate-like beams 52. Each beam52 is spaced from the adjacent end wall 46 or 47 to define an elongatedhollow therebetween to receive a different one of the slotted supports34. Each beam 52 has a width slightly less than the distance between theelement 26 and the supports 34 on the cap member 12 to fit therebetween(see FIG. 6). The two beams 52 are spaced apart to form a groove orfurrow therebetween transverse of the wire receiving channels 48 and 49to receive the contact element 26. Semi-circular seats 53 defining aportion of the channels 48 and 49 support the wires 22 and 23 as thesame are forced into the recesses 31 and slots 35. Within the furrow aretwo stuffer bars 55 in line with the recesses 31 (see FIG. 8) and eachhaving a width less than the distance between legs 29 to readily enterthe recesses 31 and force the wires 22 and 23 into the recesses 31 inthe contact element 26. Within each hollow between one of the beam 52and the end wall 46 or 47 adjacent thereto are two posts 57 in line withthe slots 35 (see FIGS. 3-5) to force the wires 22 and 23 into the slots35 of the wire supports 34. The stuffer bars 55 and posts 57 extenddownwardly toprovide a lower surface coinciding with the upper surfaceof each channel 48 and 49. u i

The end walls 46 and 47 of the body member 10 carry the second set oflatching projections including an upper set of four projections 11, anda lower set of projections consisting of four pairs of ears 62 and 63.The projections 11, 62 and 63 interact with the projections 40 and 41 ofthe first set of latching projections to provide detent means fordefining the open (FIG. 3) and partially closed (FIG. 4) positions ofthe connector, and provide locking means to lock the connector in itsclosed position (FIG. 5). In the open position (FIG. 3) the ears 62 and63 on the body member 10 are positioned in the space between theprojections 40 and 41 on the cap member 12. Upon sufficient pressure onthe body and cap members 10 and 12 to move the ears 62 and 63 past theprojection 41, the cap and body members will move to their partiallyclosed position (FIG. 4) with the projections 40 and 41 on the capmember 12 in the space between the ears 63 and the projections 11. Inthe partially closed position the upper cars 63 abut the lowerprojections 41 and the upper projections 40 abut the ramp surfaces 58 sothat the reacting forces against the upper ears 63 and the ramp surfaces58 tend to retain the body and cap members l0 and 12 in this partiallyclosed position. As shown in FIG. 4, the wires 22 and 23 are partiallywedged into the recesses 31 and slots 35 and are thus retained withinthe connector. Finger pressure of the craftsman is sufficient to presstogether the body and cap members 10 and 12 from the open to thispartially closed position. With the wires thus retained within theconnector, the craftsman may release his finger grip on the connectorwithout the wires readily separating from the connector, and cansubstitute a plier-like crimping tool for his fingers to move the bodyand cap members 10 and 12 of the connector to the fully closed positionshown in FIG. 5 so that the legs 23 of the contact element 26 will severthe insulation and make electrical contact with the conductors 33 of thewires 22 and 23. Upon such movement of the body and cap members 10 and12, the resilient walls 14 of the cap member 12 will deflect outwardlyvia a camming action of the projection 40 against ramp surfaces 58 onthe projections 11, and in the fully closed position of the members theprojections 40 under the influence of the resilient walls 14 will seatover the projections 11 in recesses 59 in the 7 body member 10 to lockthe connector in the fully closed position.

Extending from the end wall 47 about the channel 4 is a semi-circularplate 64 which provides additional support to the tap wire 23 andidentifies, for the craftsman, the channel which is to receive the tapwire 23.

The body member 10 has a transverse side opening 60 communicating withthe channel 48 to permit a length of the continuing run wire 22 to belaterally inserted into the channel 48 when the body and cap members 10and 12 are in their open position (FIG. 3). The ramp surfaces 53 on theprojections 11 assist in guiding the run wire 23 into the channel 46. Asmay be seen in FIG. 5, the side opening 60 for the run wire 22 iscovered along its entire length by the adjacent wall 14 when the bodyand cap members 10 and 12 are in their closed position.

Before assembling the connector, a quantity of relatively transparentdielectric grease (not shown) is preferably inserted into the cap member10 around the contact element 26. When the body and cap members 10 and12 are locked in their fully closed position an enclosure is providedabout the dielectric grease by the wire supports 34, bottom plate 18 andside walls 14 of the cap member 12, and the base portion 44 of the bodymember 10, thus protecting the dielectric grease from erosion when theconnector is exposed to moisture.

As a specific illustrative but non-limiting example of a preferredembodiment adapted for use in connecting 22 through 23 gauge insulatedcopper wire, a connector is constructed as follows: the body member 10is molded from a transparent polycarbonate to have an over-all length of1.1 l centimeter (.44 inch), an overall width of .64 centimeter (.25inch), and an over-all height of .56 centimeter (.22 inch). Thelongitudinal channels 46 and 49 have a diameter of .13 centimeter (.05inch). The cap member 12, also formed of polycarbonate, has an over-alllength of .95 centimeter (.38 inch), an over-all width of .80 centimeter(.32 inch), and an over-all height of .60 centimeter (.24 inch). Theplate-like slotted supports 34 each have a thickness of .066 centimeter(.026 inch) and are formed with the fingers 37 defining .036 centimeter(.014 inch) slots 35 therebetween with a 40 taper on the side fingersand .06 centimeter (.03 inch) radii on the central finger. The metalcontact element 26 is formed from a copper alloy No. 260, having anover-all height of .38 centimeter (.15 inch), an over-all width of .52centimeter (.20 inch), a thickness of .04 centimeter (.016 inch), withlegs 29 defining .024 centimeter (.009 inch) recesses 31 therebetweenwith 50 tapers at the leading edge of the opening 32.

It will be appreciated in view of the foregoing description that theillustrated vertical orientation of the body and cap members 10 and 12allows a craftsman to view down into the connector through thetransparent body member 10, to check the alignment of the wires and therecesses before the connector is crimped together, as the connectorwould be normally held by a craftsman; however, the cap member 12 couldalso or alternatively be transparent wherein it may be desired to viewthrough the cap member 12 as the same is pressed down over the bodymember 10.

Having thus described the invention with reference to a preferredembodiment, what is claimed is:

1. ln a solderless wire connector adapted for electrically connecting atleast two electrical wires each having a metal conductor and aninsulating coating thereabout, said connector comprising:

an electrically insulating resilient first connector member havingparallel wire receiving channels and a groove extending perpendicular tosaid channels, said first connector member having a first set oflatching projections;

an electrically insulating resilient second connector member mounted onsaid first connector member for movement relative thereto from an openposition to a closed position, and having a second set of latchingprojections interacting with said first set of latching projections todefine said open position and to lock said connector members in saidclosed position upon movement thereof to said closed position; and

a metal contact element mounted on said second connector member andhaving spaced extending legs defining parallel wire receiving recessestherebetween, said contact element being spaced from said wire receivingchannels when said connector members are in said open position and beingtransverse of said channels in' said slot when said connector membersare in said closed position to engage and make electrical connectionbetween electrical wires within said slot;

the improvement wherein said sets of latching projections includecooperating projections to releasably retain said connector members at apartially closed position between said open and closed positions; saidconnector includes retaining members adapted to engage the insulatingcoating on wires in said channels when said connector members are insaid partially closed position to retain the electrical wires withinsaid channels and in alignment with said contact element; and saidlatching projections and said retaining members are adapted to affordmovement by finger pressure of said first and second members from saidopen position to said partially closed position.

2. A connector according to claim 1 wherein said retaining members areformed on said second connector member and comprise spaced extendingfingers defining parallel slots, said fingers being positioned with saidslots in alignment with said recesses in said contact element and beingpositioned transverse of said channels to engage wires in said channelswhen said connector members are in said partially closed position.

3. A connector according to claim 2 including two retaining membersspaced on opposite sides of said contact element, with the distal endsof said fingers defining diverging openings into said slots adapted toengage wires in said channels and align said wires with the recesses insaid contact element during movement of said connector members from saidopen position to said partially closed position.

4. A connector according to claim 1 wherein said connector is adaptedfor making an electrical connection to a continuing wire, said firstconnector member has a transverse opening communicating with one side ofone wire receiving channel adapted for receiving a length of acontinuing wire, and said second connector member includes a wall spacedfrom said opening to afford positioning a length of a continuing wire inthe channel when said connector members are in said open position, andpositioned to entirely close said transverse opening when said connectormembers are in said closed position.

5. A connector according to claim 4 wherein said connector members haveinterfitting walls which provide a generally complete enclosure aboutsaid contact element when wires are positioned in said connector andsaid connector members are in their closed position, said closure beinguseful for retaining a quantity of dielectric grease around the contactelement.

6. Aconnector according to claim 1 wherein said first connector memberincludes bars in said groove across said channels, each bar having awidth less than that of said recesses, having a surface generallycoplanar with the surface of a said channel opposite said contactmember, and being oriented to enter one of the recesses and force a wirewithin the channel into said recess when said connector members aremoved to their closed position.

Patent No. 3,8on,'97 I nated g il 16, 197 4 Inventor) James H. Bazille,Jr.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent andthat said Letters Patent ere hereby corrected as shown below:

- Column 1, line 50, delete "15; and line 56 after "two" insertconnector Column 3 line 25, change "member" to members I Column '4,lines 12 and 13, change "divergentopenings 32, which opening 32 therecesses 31 to assist" to read divergent openings 32 to the recesses 31,which openings 32 assist Column 5,' line 35, change "beam" to beamsSigned and sealed this 1st day of October 1974.

(SEAL) Atteat:

McCOY M. GIBSON JR; c. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents FORM PO-lOBO (O-9) James H. Bazille, Jr.

Inventofls) the above-identified patent It is certified that errorappears in "rented as shown below:

and that said Letters Patent are hereby cor Column 1, line 50, delete"is; and line 56, after "we" insert connector Column 3, line 25, change"member" to members Column 4 lines 12 and 13, change "divergent-openings32, which opening 32 the recesses 31 to assist" to read divergentopenings 32 to the recesses 31, which openings 32 assist Column 5, line35, change "beam" to beams.

Signed and sealed this 1st day of October 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON JR. Attesting Officer C. MARSHALL DANN Commissioner ofPatents FORM PO-tOflO H049) UscomM-oc 60376400 I 0.8. GOVIIIIII!"PMIYING OHM! i0 O-db-"l.

1. In a solderless wire connector adapted for electrically connecting atleast two electrical wires each having a metal conductor and aninsulating coating thereabout, said connector comprising: anelectrically insulating resilient first connector member having parallelwire receiving channels and a groove extending perpendicular to saidchannels, said first connector member having a first set of latchingprojections; an electrically insulating resilient second connectormember mounted on said first connector member for movement relativethereto from an open position to a closed position, and having a secondset of latching projections interacting with said first set of latchingprojections to define said open position and to lock said connectormembers in said closed position upon movement thereof to said closedposition; and a metal contact element mounted on said second connectormember and having spaced extending legs defining parallel wire receivingrecesses therebetween, said contact element being spaced from said wirereceiving channels when said connector members are in said open poSitionand being transverse of said channels in said slot when said connectormembers are in said closed position to engage and make electricalconnection between electrical wires within said slot; the improvementwherein said sets of latching projections include cooperatingprojections to releasably retain said connector members at a partiallyclosed position between said open and closed positions; said connectorincludes retaining members adapted to engage the insulating coating onwires in said channels when said connector members are in said partiallyclosed position to retain the electrical wires within said channels andin alignment with said contact element; and said latching projectionsand said retaining members are adapted to afford movement by fingerpressure of said first and second members from said open position tosaid partially closed position.
 2. A connector according to claim 1wherein said retaining members are formed on said second connectormember and comprise spaced extending fingers defining parallel slots,said fingers being positioned with said slots in alignment with saidrecesses in said contact element and being positioned transverse of saidchannels to engage wires in said channels when said connector membersare in said partially closed position.
 3. A connector according to claim2 including two retaining members spaced on opposite sides of saidcontact element, with the distal ends of said fingers defining divergingopenings into said slots adapted to engage wires in said channels andalign said wires with the recesses in said contact element duringmovement of said connector members from said open position to saidpartially closed position.
 4. A connector according to claim 1 whereinsaid connector is adapted for making an electrical connection to acontinuing wire, said first connector member has a transverse openingcommunicating with one side of one wire receiving channel adapted forreceiving a length of a continuing wire, and said second connectormember includes a wall spaced from said opening to afford positioning alength of a continuing wire in the channel when said connector membersare in said open position, and positioned to entirely close saidtransverse opening when said connector members are in said closedposition.
 5. A connector according to claim 4 wherein said connectormembers have interfitting walls which provide a generally completeenclosure about said contact element when wires are positioned in saidconnector and said connector members are in their closed position, saidclosure being useful for retaining a quantity of dielectric greasearound the contact element.
 6. A connector according to claim 1 whereinsaid first connector member includes bars in said groove across saidchannels, each bar having a width less than that of said recesses,having a surface generally coplanar with the surface of a said channelopposite said contact member, and being oriented to enter one of therecesses and force a wire within the channel into said recess when saidconnector members are moved to their closed position.